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Finger-Prick Alzheimer’s Blood Test Advances in Global Trial Nearing Full Enrollment

The study tests low-cost blood biomarkers against PET and MRI to support earlier screening in primary care.

Overview

  • Bio‑Hermes‑002 has enrolled 883 of 1,000 participants across 25 sites in the UK, US and Canada, with more than 360 already completing the test.
  • The finger‑prick approach uses a plasma separation card for ambient shipping and measures pTau217, GFAP and NfL, with results compared to PET/MRI and other digital biomarkers.
  • Researchers aim to validate a scalable screening tool that could be performed outside specialist clinics, recognizing it would not replace confirmatory diagnostics.
  • The study is designed for broad representation, with a target of about 30% participation from under‑represented groups, and completion expected in 2028.
  • In parallel, the EU‑funded 2D‑BioPAD project is piloting a graphene‑based device in Finland, Greece and Germany to deliver multi‑biomarker results in roughly 30 minutes, with performance benchmarking planned by late 2026.